12 DAYS CLASSIC TOUR OF UGANDA

Day 1: Arrival Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and after finalizing the formalities, you shall be welcomed by your guide, who will then drive you to your hotel.

Day 2: Fly to Kidepo Valley National Park

Today, you will fly to Kidepo Valley National Park. The park liesin the rugged, semi- arid valleys between Uganda’s borderswith Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species. Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. You will arrive at your accommodation in the National Park in time forlunch, enjoy your lunch and relax a little bit at your accommodation. Later on you will go for an evening game drive.

Day 3: Nature walk and game drive

After your breakfast, start your drive through the Narus Valley.You will have a nature walk in the park. In the afternoon you will enjoy a game drive. Kidepo National Park is a savannah landscape that extends in all directions, It is home to elephant,zebra, giraffe, huge herds of buffalo, warthog, duiker, Jackson’s Hartebeest, lion, leopard, cheetah and hundreds of bird species, Buffalos, and Elephants. Other animals that may be seen roaming around include: Jackal Roan, Antelope, Waterbuck, Eland, Oribi, Klipspringer and Lions. The park also boasts of being the highest concentration of birds endemic to Uganda like: Ostrich, Kori bustard, vultures, pygmy falcon, hornbills, eagles and more.

Day 4: Game drive and community visit

After your breakfast, you will enjoy a morning game drive. Kidepo National Park is a savannah landscape that extends in all directions, It is home to elephant, zebra, giraffe, huge herdsof buffalo, warthog, duiker, Jackson’s Hartebeest, lion, leopard, cheetah and hundreds of bird species, Buffalos, and Elephants. Other animals that may be seen roaming around include: Jackal Roan, Antelope, Waterbuck, Eland, Oribi, Klipspringer and Lions. The park also boasts of being the highest concentration of birds endemic to Uganda like: Ostrich, Kori bustard, vultures, pygmy falcon, hornbills, eagles and more. Later in the afternoon, you will visit a Karamajong community. Here you will spend a wonderful evening with Karamajong people and have an insight of their way of life and beliefs. At the end of the tour you will be able to understand why their pride makes them slow to adapt to globalization.

Day 5: Drive to Murchison Fallsnational Park

After breakfast proceed to the next highlight of your memorabletour in Uganda, going on to the beautiful north-western Uganda Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison Falls National Park sits on the shore of Lake Albert, in northwest Uganda. It’s known for Murchison Falls, where the Victoria Nile River surges through a narrow gap over a massive drop. Park wildlife includes elephants and hippos, and there are chimpanzees in the Kaniyo Pabidi mahogany forest. The Lake Albert Delta is home to rare shoebill storks. Proceed to your Lodge.

Day 6: Game drive and launchcruise on The River Nile

After an early breakfast, proceed for a game drive. This is a beautiful drive across savannah, Borassus Palm Forest and grassland down to Lake Albert where the Albert Nile headsnorth. Drive in the open African savanna in search for Lions, Leopard, Hyena, Buffalo, Elephant, Jackson Hartebeest. Oribi, Waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, and enjoy spotting various Bird species such as the Secretary Bird, Black Chested Snake Eagle, Tawny and Marshal Eagles Carmine and Swallow Tailed Bee-Eaters and many more.In the afternoon, go for a boat ride up the Nile, to Murchison falls, whence the park derives its name. Enjoy these spectacular falls. After you will hike to the top of the falls where the Nile squeezes through a 7 meter gap and at the bottom you will see huge Nile Crocodiles basking.

Day 7: Fly to Kasese and drive to Kibale National Park

Today you will fly from Murchison falls National Park to Kasese airstrip, upon arrival, you will meet with your guide and transferto Kibale National park. Along the way you will pass many tea plantations. On the way you stop in Fort Portal. In the afternoon you will arrive at your accommodation.

Day 8: Chimpanzee tracking, Bigodi swamp walk

Today you will track the most famous inhabitants of Kibale National Park, the chimpanzees. With over 1,450 individuals protected within the park, Kibale forest is home to the largest number of the endangered chimpanzees in Uganda, as well as the threatened red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest’s monkey.
The forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa totaling 13 species including the black and white colobus, blue monkey and grey-cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkey, bush babies and pottos. In the afternoon after tracking, you have the opportunity for a guided walk through the swamps of Bigodi. After the fascinating walk you have the choice of relaxing in the accommodation or community walk in a village nearby. Alternatively, you can visit a school in the local community, talk to the students and teachers andparticipate in the lessons.

Day 9: Drive to Ishasha Sector – Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to Ishasha whichis in the southern part of Queen Elisabeth National Park. Queen Elizabeth National Park is estimated as one of the national parksin the world, which has the highest Biodiversity of plants and animals. The landscape consists of open savannah, rainforest, dense papyrus swamps, crater lakes and the incredibly wide Lake Edward. You will have a game drive in search of tree climbing lions that are commonly found in this part of the park.

Day 10: Game drive in Ishasha, drive to Bwindi National Park

Depart for Bwindi National Park in the Morning. You will have another game drive in search of the tree climbing Lions. Then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park ishome to the endangered mountain gorillas. This fascinatingmountain forest hosts chimpanzees and spectacular birds. There
are 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemic bird species including Blue-throated Broadbill, bar-tailed Trogon and other beautiful forest species.

Day 11: Gorilla trekking

This morning you will get up very early to prepare for theHighlight of your Safari, Gorilla Trekking. You will drive to the Trekking station depending on where your Gorilla permits willbe. Trekking the Mountain Gorilla is one of the most exciting wildlife experiences on earth. The trek will take between 2 and 6hours, but is well worth the effort. You will be led by an experienced ranger who will tell you interesting facts about flora and fauna and the lifestyle of the Gorillas.

Day 12: Fly back to Entebbe and depart

You will fly back to Entebbe enjoying the beautiful aerial view of south western Uganda, the hills and thick vegetation as well as the farming practiced by the locals. Later drive to the Airport and catch your flight back home.